The Legend Returns: 2026 Ram 1500 Offers 5.7-litre HEMI® V-8 eTorque Engine with Proven Performance and Capability

Trucks

Stellantis

Ram has confirmed that the 5.7-litre HEMI® V-8 will make its comeback in the 2026 Ram 1500.

"Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle it defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the HEMI — we own it and we fixed it,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO, Ram brand. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”

After transitioning the 1500 lineup to six-cylinder powertrains for the 2025 model year, strong demand and enthusiasm for the iconic V-8 have driven its return to the Ram 1500.

“Ram will continue to offer the more powerful and more efficient Hurricane Straight Six Turbo, but we heard loud and clear from consumers: there is no replacement for the iconic HEMI V-8. At the end of each month, we count sales to customers, not statisticians or ideologues. Data be damned — we raise our flag and let the HEMI ring free again!” added Kuniskis.

Each HEMI-powered 2026 Ram 1500 includes a new fender-mounted “Symbol of Protest Badge” created by the Ram design team. The badge outlines the Ram’s head pushing forward, powered by a HEMI V-8 block.

The HEMI will be available in 2026 model year Ram 1500 Tradesman, Big Horn, Express, Warlock, Sport, Laramie, Rebel (late availability), Limited and Longhorn as part of the brand’s aggressive product cadence covering the next 18 months.

The 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 delivers 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque in a smooth, broad power band, enhanced with fuel-saving technologies that include variable camshaft timing and cylinder deactivation.

The eTorque hybrid system is a class-exclusive, available V-8 hybrid. The system replaces the traditional engine-mounted alternator with a belt-driven motor generator unit. The motor generator unit works with a 48-volt battery pack to provide quick and seamless engine start/stop, torque addition to the engine crankshaft in certain driving situations and brake energy regeneration, which improves responsiveness and efficiency. The system enables up to 130 lb.-ft. of torque to be available on initial throttle tip-in.

Performance-enhancing features include variable valve timing, Fuel Saver Technology (cylinder deactivation) and an 850-watt electric cooling fan using Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the fan’s energy draw to the cooling demand.

Intelligent eTorque Integration

The eTorque hybrid system stores energy in a compact, 430 watt-hour lithium-ion battery, housed in a noise-insulated enclosure behind the rear seat. Air-cooled and internally vented, the system uses dual cooling fans to maintain optimal battery temperatures while remaining acoustically transparent to passengers.

A 3-kilowatt DC-to-DC converter steps down the 48 volts to charge the truck’s conventional 12-volt battery and power accessories. The 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 retains a traditional starter motor for cold-weather starts.

eTorque’s benefits extend beyond start/stop. It enhances shifts, improves fuel-saving cylinder deactivation and smooths transitions under acceleration and braking, helping reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The new engine option offers a towing capacity of up to 5,203 kilograms (11,470 pounds) and maximum payload capacity of 794 kilograms (1,750 pounds).

Freedom Of Choice Powertrain 

The 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 is packaged with a performance-tuned exhaust system and 125-litre (33-gallon) fuel tank.